Displaying a barcode on a display of an infusion pump

ABSTRACT

An infusion pump system includes an infusion channel, and a display associated with the infusion channel. The display is for rendering a scannable barcode.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a Continuation of patent application Ser. No.14/062,477, filed Oct. 24, 2013, entitled “Displaying a Barcode On ADisplay Of An Infusion Pump” which in turn is a Continuation of patentapplication Ser. No. 13/069,347, filed on Mar. 22, 2011, now U.S. Pat.No. 8,567,681, entitled “Displaying A Barcode On A Display of AnInfusion Pump”, the contents of which are hereby fully incorporated byreference.

BACKGROUND

Use of an infusion pump in conjunction with a Bar Code MedicalAdministration (BCMA) system requires that the infusion pump present abarcode. Typically, this barcode is manually attached or adhered to aninfusion channel of an infusion pump. This barcode is scanned toassociate a medication order with the infusion channel. The use of thisapproach has many issues. For example, correlation of the BCMA systemsidentification information with that of other means (e.g., wirelessnetworking), cleaning of the infusion pump, barcode label loss andsubsequent replacement.

Moreover, the symbology, format and content of the barcode used toidentify the pump channel is specific to the BCMA system used. Themanufacturer of the infusion pump's barcode is not used, and there is nouniversal standard for the barcodes compatible with BCMA systems.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIGS. 1-3 illustrate examples of an infusion pump system, in accordancewith embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 4 illustrates an example of a method for displaying a barcode on adisplay of an infusion pump system, in accordance with an embodiment ofthe present invention.

The drawings referred to in this description should be understood as notbeing drawn to scale except if specifically noted.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

Reference will now be made in detail to embodiments of the presenttechnology, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings. While the technology will be described in conjunction withvarious embodiment(s), it will be understood that they are not intendedto limit the present technology to these embodiments. On the contrary,the present technology is intended to cover alternatives, modificationsand equivalents, which may be included within the spirit and scope ofthe various embodiments as defined by the appended claims.

Furthermore, in the following description of embodiments, numerousspecific details are set forth in order to provide a thoroughunderstanding of the present technology. However, the present technologymay be practiced without these specific details. In other instances,well known methods, procedures, components, and circuits have not beendescribed in detail as not to unnecessarily obscure aspects of thepresent embodiments.

FIG. 1 depicts an embodiment of infusion pump system 100. Infusion pumpsystem includes infusion pump 110. Infusion pump 110 includes at leastone infusion channel 120 for providing an order of medication to apatient.

Infusion pump 110 also includes at least one display 130. Display 130 isfor rendering a scannable barcode 150 generated by barcode generator140.

Additionally, display 130 displays user-readable information. Forexample, in addition to displaying barcode 150, display 130 alsodisplays information such as, a name of the pump, patient name, drugdosage, etc that are able to be read by a user.

In one embodiment, display 130 is a transmissive display (e.g., backlitLCD display) with sufficient contrast and resolution such that an imagescanner is able to scan barcode 150. In another embodiment, display 130is a reflective display (e.g., electronic paper).

Barcode 150 is any optical machine-readable representation of data. Forexample, a 2-D barcode. In general, barcode 150 uniquely identifiesinfusion channel 120. For example, barcode 150 is utilized to associateinfusion channel 120 to an infusion order.

In one embodiment, barcode 150 includes a Uniform Resource Locator(URL). When scanned by an appropriate configured mobile device, abrowser on the mobile device is able to view the given web pageassociated with the URL and display its contents. Moreover, thisfunctionality allows a user access to context-sensitive instructionmaterial (e.g., videos, diagrams, etc.) or to information on aparticular device alarm or malfunction.

Barcode 150 can be static information or dynamically changinginformation, which will be described in detail below.

Barcode generator 140 receives input 145 to facilitate in generatingbarcode 150. Input 145 can be, but is not limited to, configurationdata, unique device data and system state. Barcode generator 140 assuresthat each barcode is compatible with the barcoding application (e.g., aBCMA system) in use.

In one embodiment, barcode generator 140 dynamically generates barcodesfor display on display 130. For example, display 130 dynamicallydisplays a first dynamic barcode when infusion pump is at a first stateand dynamically displays a second dynamic barcode when infusion pump isat a second state. In another example, display 130 initially displays abarcode indicating a channel identifier, but changes to displaying abarcode indicating infusion status in response to a clinician pressing abutton/key on infusion pump 110.

Unique device data is information particular to infusion pump 110 and/orinfusion channel 120. For example, model number, serial number or MACaddress, etc.

System state information allows barcode generator 140 to change thegenerated barcode that is rendered on the display to dynamically changein real-time according to the current state of infusion pump system 100.

Configuration data is information associated with the currentconfiguration of infusion pump 110. It specifies what is to be displayedon display 130 for each applicable system state.

In one embodiment, configuration data indicates how to construct thedata to be encoded into barcode 150. For example, data to be encoded mayinclude a fixed field plus a field containing the device serial number.In another example, the barcode data could be a unique identifiergenerated by a particular rule from the device serial number and/ormodel number.

In another embodiment, configuration data includes a specification ofthe format, symbology and encoding used to create the barcode image fromthe barcode data. For example, configuration data can be configurationdata from a plurality of different BCMA systems. Moreover, theconfiguration data can be stored on memory on infusion pump 110 or froman external configuration system.

In a further embodiment, a user specifies a configuration by selectingsupport for a particular BCMA system or by making lower level, moregranular choices. The configuration may be applied through devicesettings or via a clinical dataset. Moreover, configurations may beinstitution wide or vary by care area.

Input 145 can include dynamic data (e.g., configuration data and/orsystem state) such as, but not limited to, medication order information,infusion status, drug information, dosage information, volume infused,volume remaining, patient ID, clinician ID, etc.

Accordingly, infusion pump system 100 can utilize the dynamic data toaid in charting. For example, to facilitate in populating an automatedflow sheet or Electronic Medication Administration Record (eMAR). Thedynamic information can be used to confirm handling of an automatedorder that is transmitted back to a medication administration system.

Barcode scanner 180 is for scanning barcode 150 rendered on display 130.Barcode scanner 180 can be any scanner capable of scanning barcode 150displayed on display 130.

In one embodiment, display 130 is integrated into infusion pump 110. Forexample, display 130 is integrated in the form factor of infusion pump110. In particular, display 130 is integrated into infusion channel 120.

In another embodiment, display 130 is a separate component that isattached to a legacy infusion pump or infusion channel. Accordingly,display 130 includes barcode generator 140 or is able to wirelesslyreceive barcode 150 from barcode generator located in another medicalsystem.

Display 130 is disposed at a location that the correspondence betweenthe infusion channel and the barcode is obvious to a clinician.

FIG. 2A depicts an embodiment of infusion pump 210A. Infusion pump 210Ais similar to infusion pump 110. Accordingly, infusion pump 210Aoperates in a similar fashion as infusion pump 110.

However, infusion pump 210A includes infusion channels 220-222 anddisplays 230-232 correspondingly associated with infusion channels220-222. It should be appreciated that infusion pump 210A can includeany number of infusion channels.

In one embodiment, infusion channels 220-222 are integrated in infusionpump 210A.

Barcode generator 140 generates barcodes 250-252 that arecorrespondingly displayed on displays 230-232.

FIG. 2B depicts an embodiment of infusion pump 210B. Infusion pump 210Bis similar to infusion pump 210A. Accordingly, infusion pump 210Boperates in a similar fashion as infusion pump 210A.

However infusion channels 220-222 are modular components that areassociated with infusion pump 210B. It should be appreciated thatinfusion pump 210B can include any number of infusion channels.

Barcode generators 240-242 are a part of or integrated with infusionchannels 220-222, respectively.

FIG. 3 depicts an embodiment of infusion pump 310. Infusion pump 310 issimilar to infusion pumps 110, and 210A-B. Accordingly, infusion pump310 operates in a similar fashion as infusion pumps 110, and 210A-B.

However, infusion pump 310 includes display 330 associated with infusionchannels 320-322. In one embodiment, infusion channels 320-322 aremodular infusion channels. It should be appreciated that infusion pump310 can include any number of infusion channels.

Barcode generator 140 generates barcodes 350-352 that are associatedwith infusion channels 320-322, respectively. As such, display 330 isable to display a barcode associated with a selected infusion channel.For example, display 330 renders barcode 350 when infusion channel 320is selected.

Display 330 can be integrated within infusion pump 310 or can be aseparate from infusion pump 310.

FIG. 4 depicts an embodiment of a method 400 for displaying a barcode ona display of an infusion pump system. In various embodiments, method 400is carried out by processors and electrical components under the controlof computer readable and computer executable instructions. The computerreadable and computer executable instructions reside, for example, in adata storage medium such as computer usable volatile and non-volatilememory. However, the computer readable and computer executableinstructions may reside in any type of computer readable storage medium.In some embodiments, method 400 is performed at least by infusion pumps110, 210 and 310, as described in FIGS. 1-3.

At 410 of method 400, a barcode is generated. For example, barcodegenerator 140 generates barcode 150 associated with infusion channel120.

In one embodiment, at 412, a barcode is dynamically generated. Forexample, barcode 150 is dynamically changed in response to a dynamicallychanging system state.

In another embodiment, at 414, in response to input information, thebarcode is generated, wherein the input information is selected from agroup consisting of: configuration data, unique device data and systemstate. For example, in response to input 145, barcode 150 is generated.

In a further embodiment, at 416, the barcode is generated at power up(in response to configuration data and unique device data) and displayeduntil the device is turned off.

At 420, the barcode is displayed on a display of the infusion pumpsystem, wherein the display is associated with an infusion channel ofthe infusion pump system.

In one embodiment, at 422, a plurality of barcodes are displayed on acorresponding plurality of displays, wherein the plurality of displaysare associated with a plurality of infusion channels. For example,barcodes 250-252 are correspondingly displayed on displays 230-232.Moreover, displays 230-232 are integrated with infusion channels230-232.

In another embodiment, at 424, a barcode of a plurality of barcodes isdisplayed on the display, wherein the plurality of barcodes areassociated with a plurality of infusion channels. For example, barcode351 is displayed on display 330 when infusion channel 321 is selected bya user. Moreover, barcodes 350-352 are associated with infusion channels320-322.

In further embodiments, at 425, the barcodes are displayed on atransmissive display, and at 426, the barcodes are displayed on areflective display.

At 430, user-readable information is displayed on the display. Forexample, a patients name is displayed on display 150.

At 440, the barcode displayed on the display is scanned. For example,barcode scanner 180 scans barcode 150 that is displayed on display 130.

Various embodiments of the present invention are thus described. Whilethe present invention has been described in particular embodiments, itshould be appreciated that the present invention should not be construedas limited by such embodiments, but rather construed according to thefollowing claims.

The invention claimed is:
 1. An infusion pump system comprising: aninfusion channel; a display associated with the infusion channel forrendering scannable barcodes; a wireless interface; and a barcodegenerator to generate in real-time a first scannable barcode and asecond scannable barcode in response to input information comprisingconfiguration information received via the wireless interface from aremote medical system, wherein the configuration information includes avolume infused by the infusion pump system via the infusion channel anda volume of medication remaining, wherein the second scannable barcodereplaces the first scannable barcode on the display.
 2. The infusionpump system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first scannablebarcode and the second scannable barcode comprises a Uniform ResourceLocator (URL).
 3. The infusion pump system of claim 2, wherein the URLis directed to a resource location, which when accessed by a mobiledevice, causes information associated with an alarm for the infusionpump system or information associated with a malfunction for theinfusion pump system to be displayed on a screen of the mobile device.4. The infusion pump system of claim 1, further comprising: a pluralityof infusion channels; and a plurality of displays associated with theplurality of infusion channels, wherein the plurality of displays arefor rendering a plurality of scannable barcodes that correspond to theplurality of infusion channels.
 5. The infusion pump system of claim 1,wherein the display is associated with a plurality of infusion channels.6. The infusion pump system of claim 1, wherein the display isintegrated with the pump.
 7. The infusion pump system of claim 1,wherein the display is a transmissive display.
 8. The infusion pumpsystem of claim 1, wherein the display is a reflective display.
 9. Theinfusion pump system of claim 1, wherein the input information furthercomprises: unique device data.
 10. The infusion pump system of claim 9,wherein the input information further comprises: system stateinformation.
 11. The infusion pump system of claim 1, wherein thedisplay is further configured for rendering user readable information.12. The infusion pump system of claim 1, wherein the configuration datafurther includes one or more of: a specification of a barcode format, ora symbology and encoding to create the first scannable barcode and thesecond scannable barcode.
 13. The infusion pump system of claim 9,wherein the unique device data includes one or more of: a model numberfor the infusion pump, a serial number for the infusion pump, or a mediaaccess control address for the infusion pump.